Chapter 2

On the other end, Mom immediately sensed something was wrong.

After all, she'd only turned down the opportunity to go abroad because of me.

"Mom, I know you have a lot of questions."

But right now, I didn't have the emotional capacity to explain this sudden turn of events.

"I've already made up my mind. Once I finish work and get my visa, I'll go with you."

"I'll explain everything then."

Mom went silent for a few seconds but ultimately didn't press further.

After hanging up, I collapsed on the couch, trying to calm the emotions surging inside me.

Frederick's buddies were right.

We'd only had a wedding ceremony, never legally registered the marriage. Everything could change easily.

Just like now—I didn't need to wait for him to come home to discuss a divorce.

I suppressed the churning emotions and forced myself to start packing.

In the closet, the neatly pressed matching outfits seemed to mock me with their grins.

I'd designed them myself for our honeymoon photoshoot with Frederick.

I'd stayed up countless nights, revising them over and over, and only received the finished pieces today.

Just half an hour ago, I'd been eagerly waiting for Frederick to come home so we could try them on.

Now, I yanked months of hard work off the hangers and shoved everything into the trash.

By the time I finished packing and wheeled my suitcase out the door, it was already midnight.

The elevator doors opened. A familiar voice echoed down the hallway.

"Frederick, say it!"

"You're a dog!"

"Bark for me!"

Through my blurred, stinging vision, I saw Frederick—who hadn't come home in three days—carrying Lily on his back.

Her face was flushed red. One hand grabbed his ear while the other pulled at his hair.

She was forcing him to bark like a dog.

Frederick reached up to control Lily's flailing hands. The designer heels hooked on his fingers slipped and clattered to the floor.

The sound echoed. All the lights flicked on.

Frederick saw me. His hand loosened slightly, and Lily slid off his back.